Right now, my favorite art insulation is "Blossum" by 2grey and directed by Minhyuk Jang. This insulation features a room with four walls filled with glass-like screens, and behind them are images of morphing flowers, grass, and other plants accompanied by music with an ending of flower petals filling the frames. The stunning visuals, from an empty blank room to a scene filled with light and color, is why this piece is one of my current favorites. I have always been a huge fan of flowers, not really on the scientific side but more on the side of beauty and aesthetics. Flowers have a deep connection to who I am as a person and, to me, symbolize growth and change. The act of growing from bare dirt to budding and eventually blooming is how I view myself in a lot of ways, not only in growing up but also alongside my transition. "Blossum" truly captures this idea of change and growth that I love. You can watch the video on their website! http://www.2grey.com/media/blossum

One of the many characteristics I value the most in myself is perseverance. It shows up daily, from simple tasks to challenging situations. The idea of perseverance, pushing through a problem no matter the case or how complex the problem is, comes with me every day. Perseverance has helped me learn how to cope with my mental health, improve my art skills, and has helped me stick with my dream of becoming a professional artist and cartoonist. When I was younger, I loved to draw but was often told that what I was creating didn't make sense and that an art career would go nowhere. So I watched, researched for tips, and bought and read countless books on things from objects to anatomy. Yet, I continued to create stories and characters that I knew represented myself and people who were underrepresented. If I would of listen to those people and not persevered, I would not be able to be where I am today. Learning how to cope with ADHD, Depression, and Anxiety was and is still a challenge. However, every day I know new ways to get tasks done and how to properly emotionally regulate. Through perseverance, I did more research, asked more questions, and gave myself hope for the next day and the day after that. I used to have terrable agoraphobia, so bad that I couldn't go out to the grocery store, but slowly, every day through, pushing myself through cautious perseverance, i was able to heal and recover, Perseverance also helped me through my transition journey. When I discovered the concept of being transgender, it struck a deep chord with me, and I knew that that is how I felt, but I would face many obstacles. Through perseverance, I conquered my challenges. I came out to my parents and sought medically transitioning. I had to do a lot of research due to uneducated doctors. However, I still didn't let that stop me. I came back and gave them the avenues and information I wanted and needed. Perseverance is what keeps me going now. Through scary legislative changes, I will persevere through the hardships to come. In all these situations, I got to a point where I thought I could never make it, but the idea of perseverance kept me going. Whether my gender, my mental state, or my passion for art, I always push through. If I try, something will always come from my hard work and actions, no matter the cost or hardship. All these reasons are why perseverance is one of my most valued characteristics.

In school, I was always thrown to the side, making coming out very hard; when I finally did come out, my peers and teachers threatened me poorly. I remember gym class was the worst; when I was uncomfortable dressing down, the teacher verbally berated me for not "choosing the right gender." Currently, I am afraid of seeing my extended family. My aunt, who constantly tries to visit my mother from across the country, always makes me feel unsafe and makes transphobic and homophobic remarks about me even when I don't show up. Fortunately, my immediate family does love and accept me. I am pursuing a bachelor's in fine arts at PNCA with a focus on Illustration and Animated arts. My biggest goal is to improve my craft and get my portfolio resume ready for when I turn it into comic and animation studios. My main goal with art post-undergraduate is to represent the underrepresented. In media, you don't see queer and trans characters of color. To me, the stories we grow up with and the stories we see every day help us form an idea of who we are as people and whom we want to become when we are young. Unfortunately, young trans and queer folks of color barely have the depth of character and professions that our cishet white counterparts do, and that's what I want to change. I plan on creating comics and cartoons with stories focused on LGBTQ BIPOC individuals so that when young BIPOC people grow up, they have something that resonates with them.

My main goal with art is to represent the underrepresented. In media, you don't see queer and trans characters of color. To me, the stories we grow up with and the stories we see every day help us form an idea of who we are as people and whom we want to become when we are young. Unfortunately, young trans and queer folks of color barely have the depth of character and professions that our cishet white counterparts do, and that's what I want to change. I plan on creating comics and cartoons with stories focused on LGBTQ BIPOC individuals so that when young BIPOC people grow up, they have something that resonates with them.

Making art has been my main escape and savior. My passion for art started when I was very young, wanting to draw the characters on TV. In cartoons and anime, they're always fighting for themselves and their friends, always making it out of challenging situations, or sometimes just relaxing and having fun with their friends. When I was in school, I didn't have many friends, my interests and personality were awkward, and I always came across differently from other students due to what I now assume were my skin tone, gender, and ADHD. The way I coped with bullying and scary home life was living through the characters I created. My many inspirations came from early 2000s Futuristic aesthetics, Studio Ghibli films, cartoons like Adventure Time or Bee and Puppycat, and Videogames like Tamagotchi and Splatoon. These things have some whimsical, colorful, and playful essence that clicks with me. From the magic and wonder in Ghibli to the fashion, colors, and tech of the early 2000s, all these things funnel into my art and make it what it is today. My main goal with art is to represent the underrepresented. In media, you don't see queer and trans characters of color. To me, the stories we grow up with and the stories we see every day help us form an idea of who we are as people and who we want to become when we are young. Unfortunately, young trans and queer folks of color barely have the depth of character and professions that our cishet white counterparts do, and that's what I want to change. My stories and characters focus on LGBTQ+ BIPOC individuals. From black transgender space vagabonds, a group of mixed-race magical girls and boys, to a wholesome Japanese gay Yokai couple, I want to highlight the people who've been invisible. By going to school for art, I'll be able to polish my portfolio and sharpen the skills needed to pursue a job in the comics and animation industry. My portfolio and abilities have been praised by the school I've enrolled in, and they have high hopes for my career further on! I know this representation is needed, and it fuels me to go forward due to the many kind messages and support I get on my art from friends, family, and people all across the internet. I have an eye for color and appealing design, and my style and color palette are unique and candy-like. I pride myself on character design, colors, and aesthetics. I am always focusing on what I can improve in my work, which is one of my many reasons for pursuing art college.